Smoking cessation is associated with increased plasma adiponectin levels in men

Low levels of adiponectin, an adipocytokine with anti-diabetic and anti-atherogenic properties, are associated with increased risk of future myocardial infarction in men. Previous studies have demonstrated that cigarette smoking is involved in the development of insulin resistance, and current smokers have been shown to have reduced plasma adiponectin levels. However, the influence of smoking cessation on adiponectin levels remains unknown. We sought to assess whether smoking cessation is associated with increased plasma adiponectin levels in men.

The study includes 72 men (47 non-smokers and 25 current smokers at baseline) with stable angina pectoris who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention and follow-up coronary angiography 6 months later. During the 6-month follow-up period, all 47 non-smokers remained non-smokers, while 15 men of the 25 baseline current smokers successfully quit smoking. We evaluated plasma adiponectin levels at coronary intervention and 6 months later.

Plasma adiponectin levels at coronary intervention were comparable to those after 6 months in non-smokers (4.22 [3.15-6.43] vs. 4.58 [3.03-6.26] microg/mL, P=0.124) and in persistent smokers (4.77 [4.25-10.53] vs. 5.16 [4.11-8.10] microg/mL, P=0.721). Meanwhile, an increase in adiponectin level was observed in patients who quit smoking for 6 months (4.24 [3.30-5.70] vs. 5.50 [4.03-8.00] microg/mL, P=0.002). Univariate analysis revealed that the percent increase in adiponectin levels correlated positively with smoking cessation (P=0.003) and negatively with additional use of beta-blockers (P=0.049). In addition, increases in adiponectin levels were closely associated with increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P=0.148), decrease in triglycerides (P=0.140), and additional use of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (P=0.069). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that smoking cessation was an independent determinant of the increase in adiponectin (P=0.036).

Smoking cessation is associated with increased plasma adiponectin levels in men with stable angina, suggesting that the significance of smoking cessation may be partly explained by the increase in adiponectin level.